Joey Barton hailed his side’s performance against Blackpool on Saturday as ‘superb’, after claiming a dramatic 3-2 victory at Highbury.
Wes Burns gave his side the perfect start after a wonderful finish after just four minutes, before Ross Wallace hit a thunderbolt from 25 yards out to beat Mark Howard at his near post to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes.
Jordan Thompson got one back for The Seasiders before the half-time whistle, but it was substitute Paddy Madden who came off the bench to score what was the winning goal within five minutes of coming on just after the hour mark.
Blackpool scored almost instantly through Nathan Delfouneso, however Town stood firm and became the first Fleetwood Town side to beat Blackpool in the club’s history.
Here are the key quotes from Joey’s post-match interview…
On the game…
“It was a fantastic game, certainly from our prospective and I thought we started the game superbly and thoroughly deserved the two goals. Wes’ goal was a goal worthy of winning any game and it was a brilliant strike from Ross Wallace to back up the first.
“His [Wallace] goal was something we worked on the training ground and it was nice to see it come off so overall I am really pleased and I just know what this win means to the people of Fleetwood, to the football club and also the player, staff, fans, and the owner.
“After the trials and tribulations over the years, the rivalry that is growing between the two clubs, I just know how big of a win it is for Andy [Pilley] and all involved. Andy is a massive part of why this club is able to do what we saw today.
“We could have made it easy for ourselves and that is the frustrating thing as at 2-0 up, you think you will go and put someone to the sword like we have done away, but we conceded a goal at a key time, but then Paddy came on and did what he does best and scores a fantastic goal.”
On his players’ performances…
“It has been a tough week for the group after two narrow defeats against first and second in the table. It was disappointing as if we are serious about doing something, we need to pick up points against those teams, but with Blackpool coming here today, they were eleven unbeaten and we understood what we needed to do.
“We showed them what a force we can be, and to a man we were superb and it started off at the back with Ash Eastham, Ched [Evans] up top who was outstanding and his link up play was superb and the little header in the build-up helped Paddy get his goal.
“I could go through the team but I am delighted for the boys and they got what they deserved, a place in history of being in the first side that beat Blackpool and I am just so happy for the team.”
On what it means for the Town, the all those involved at the club…
“The fans have been fantastic today, and have been fantastic over the course of my tenor here. I am delighted for the fans, we have the bragging rights on the Fylde Coast, and I know it will be a long 48-72 hours for the fans.
“They sung their hearts out and created a great atmosphere inside Highbury and that helped us start off the game so well.”